Pool D of the 2023 Rugby World Cup began on 9 September 2023 and concluded on 8 October 2023. The pool included 2003 champions and 2019 runner-ups England, previous hosts Japan, and Argentina. They are joined by Samoa, the winner of the Oceania 1 qualifier, and tournament debutants Chile (Americas 2). England topped the group and Argentina placed second, thus allowing both teams to progress.
Teams Team Band Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Previous bestperformance World Rugby Rankings 1 January 2020 4 September 2023 D1 1 Europe Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 5 October 2019 10th 2019 Winners (2003) 3 8D2 2 Asia Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 5 October 2019 10th 2019 Quarter-finals (2019) 8 14 D3 3 South America Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 October 2019 10th 2019 Third place (2007) 10 6 D4 4 Oceania Oceania 1 17 July 2021 9th 2019 Quarter-finals (1991, 1995) 15 12 D5 5 South America Americas 2 16 July 2022 1st colspan=2 29 22 Notes
Overview In the opening match of Pool D, England defeated Argentina by 27–10. Despite losing Tom Curry to a red card for a dangerous head-to-head with Juan Cruz Mallía, England went over the line courtesy of a player-of-the-match performance from George Ford who scored three drop goals and six penalties, with Argentina's Rodrigo Bruni scoring the only try of the match. Japan faced debutants Chile the following day, in which Japan came out winners in a score of 42–12 despite the best efforts of Chile in their first World Cup appearance. After a six day rest, Samoa played their first match of the pool against Chile in which they came out with a 43–10 bonus-point victory in Bordeaux. The next day, England secured a bonus point victory over Japan in a 34–12 win.
On 22 September, Argentina defeated Samoa with a scoreline of 19–10, with Emiliano Boffelli securing a converted try and 3 penalties, earning him player of the match. The result left the group finely poised and lifted hopes of progression to the knockout stage for Argentina. The next day, England moved on to the brink of qualifying for the knockout stage, after defeating Chile with a scoreline of 71–0 with Henry Arundell earning player of the match having scored five tries in the match. Chile were officially eliminated from the tournament following the result. As Pool D began to near its conclusion, Japan faced Samoa on 28 September in a match of high stakes for both sides. Tries from Lappies Labuschagné, Michael Leitch and Kazuki Himeno secured Japan a 28–22 victory over the Samoans to boost their hopes of progression to the knockout stage, while officially securing England's place who were thus confirmed to top the pool. Samoa, who lost Ben Lam to a red card for an upright tackle, were left requiring a victory in their final match against England to have a chance at progression. Two days later, on 30 September, Chile played their last match of their first ever Rugby World Cup against Argentina in Nantes in what was the first ever meeting between two South American sides in a World Cup. The Argentinians raced to a 59–5 victory over the Chileans, scoring eight tries along with strong kicking from Nicolás Sánchez and Santiago Carreras to set up a showdown with Japan on the final matchday to decide who would join England in the quarter-finals.
On 7 October, England played their final match of the pool against Samoa in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Despite a valiant effort from the Samoans, who scored two tries through Nigel Ah Wong, England edged the match 18–17 thanks to a Danny Care try in the 73rd minute. That gave England a clean sweep of wins from Pool D and qualification for the quarter-finals; it also eliminated any hope of Samoa progressing themselves, confirming Argentina and Japan as the other two qualifiers for the 2027 Rugby World Cup before their final match took place. That final match the following day would decide who would finish second and join England in the knockout stage. The high stakes match took place in Nantes, where Mateo Carreras scored a hat-trick as Argentina came out 39–27 victors in a 66-point thriller to finish second in the pool and send themselves through to the quarter-finals with England; Argentina won the match 39–27, consigning Japan to third place.
Standings
Matches England vs Argentina
FB 15Freddie StewardRW 14Jonny MayOC 13Joe MarchantIC 12Manu Tuilagi LW 11Elliot DalyFH 10George Ford SH 9 Alex Mitchell N8 8 Ben EarlOF 7 Tom Curry BF 6 Courtney Lawes (c) RL 5 Ollie Chessum LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Ellis Genge Replacements:HK 16Theo Dan PR 17Joe Marler PR 18Will Stuart LK 19George Martin FL 20Lewis Ludlam SH 21Danny Care FH 22Marcus Smith CE 23Ollie Lawrence Coach: Steve Borthwick FB 15Juan Cruz Mallía RW 14Emiliano BoffelliOC 13Lucio CintiIC 12Santiago ChocobaresLW 11Mateo Carreras FH 10Santiago Carreras SH 9 Gonzalo Bertranou N8 8 Juan Martín González OF 7 Marcos KremerBF 6 Pablo MateraRL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Matías Alemanno TP 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela HK 2 Julián Montoya (c) LP 1 Thomas Gallo Replacements:HK 16Agustín Creevy PR 17Joel Sclavi PR 18Eduardo Bello LK 19Guido Petti LK 20Pedro Rubiolo FL 21Rodrigo Bruni SH 22Lautaro Bazán CE 23Matías Moroni Coach: Michael Cheika Player of the Match: George Ford (England)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Pierre Brousset (France) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Notes: Tom Curry became the first England player to be sent off at a Rugby World Cup. It was also the fastest red card in a World Cup match, and the first ever to be issued at the tournament via the World Rugby foul play review process (a system introduced in August 2023, during the Summer Nations Series).
Japan vs Chile
FB 15Semisi Masirewa RW 14Kotaro MatsushimaOC 13Dylan Riley IC 12Ryōto NakamuraLW 11Jone Naikabula FH 10Rikiya MatsudaSH 9 Yutaka Nagare (c) N8 8 Jack CornelsenOF 7 Kanji Shimokawa BF 6 Michael LeitchRL 5 Amato Fakatava LL 4 Amanaki SaumakiTP 3 Koo Ji-wonHK 2 Atsushi Sakate LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Shōta Horie PR 17Craig Millar PR 18Asaeli Ai ValuLK 19Warner Dearns FL 20Shota Fukui SH 21Naoto Saitō CE 22Tomoki Osada WG 23Lomano Lemeki Coach: Jamie Joseph FB 15Iñaki AyarzaRW 14Santiago VidelaOC 13Domingo SaavedraIC 12Nicolás GarafulicLW 11Franco Velarde FH 10Rodrigo FernándezSH 9 Marcelo TorrealbaN8 8 Alfonso EscobarOF 7 Raimundo Martínez BF 6 Martín Sigren (c) RL 5 Javier Eissmann LL 4 Clemente Saavedra TP 3 Matías Dittus HK 2 Diego Escobar LP 1 Javier CarrascoReplacements:HK 16Augusto Böhme PR 17Salvador LuesPR 18Iñaki Gurruchaga LK 19Pablo Huete LK 20Santiago Pedrero FL 21Ignacio Silva SH 22Lukas CarvalloCE 23José Ignacio Larenas Coach: Pablo Lemoine Player of the Match: Amato Fakatava (Japan)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Tom Foley (England) Notes: This was the first ever meeting between these two nations. This was Chile's first game at a Rugby World Cup. Keita Inagaki (Japan) earned his 50th test cap. Kazuki Himeno was originally named in the starting line-up for Japan, but withdrew prior to the match due to a calf injury. He was replaced in the back row by Jack Cornelsen, whose initial position in the second row was taken by Amanaki Saumaki, while the captaincy was handed over to Yutaka Nagare.
Samoa vs Chile
FB 15Duncan Paia'auaRW 14Danny Toala OC 13Ulupano Seuteni IC 12Tumua Manu LW 11Nigel Ah WongFH 10Christian Leali'ifanoSH 9 Jonathan Taumateine N8 8 Steve Luatua OF 7 Fritz LeeBF 6 Taleni SeuRL 5 Theo McFarlandLL 4 Chris Vui TP 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c) HK 2 Seilala Lam LP 1 James Lay Replacements:HK 16Sama Malolo PR 17Jordan Lay PR 18Paul Alo-Emile LK 19Sam Slade FL 20Jordan Taufua SH 21Ere Enari FH 22Lima Sopoaga WG 23Ed Fidow Coach: Seilala Mapusua FB 15Iñaki AyarzaRW 14Santiago Videla OC 13Domingo SaavedraIC 12Matías GarafulicLW 11José LarenasFH 10Rodrigo FernándezSH 9 Marcelo Torrealba N8 8 Raimundo Martínez OF 7 Clemente Saavedra BF 6 Martín Sigren (c)RL 5 Santiago Pedrero LL 4 Pablo Huete TP 3 Matías Dittus HK 2 Tomás Dussaillant LP 1 Javier Carrasco Replacements:HK 16Diego Escobar PR 17Salvador Lues PR 18Esteban Inostroza LK 19Javier Eissmann FL 20Alfonso Escobar FL 21Ignacio Silva SH 22Benjamín Videla CE 23Pablo Casas Coach: Pablo Lemoine Player of the Match: Theo McFarland (Samoa)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia) James Doleman (New Zealand) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia) Notes: This was the first ever meeting between these two nations. Benjamín Videla (Chile) made his international debut.
England vs Japan
FB 15Freddie Steward RW 14Jonny MayOC 13Joe MarchantIC 12Manu Tuilagi LW 11Elliot DalyFH 10George FordSH 9 Alex Mitchell N8 8 Lewis Ludlam OF 7 Ben EarlBF 6 Courtney Lawes (c) RL 5 Ollie Chessum LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Kyle Sinckler HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Theo Dan PR 17Ellis Genge PR 18Will Stuart LK 19George Martin N8 20Billy Vunipola SH 21Ben Youngs FH 22Marcus Smith CE 23Ollie Lawrence Coach: Steve Borthwick FB 15Semisi Masirewa RW 14Kotaro MatsushimaOC 13Tomoki OsadaIC 12Ryōto NakamuraLW 11Jone Naikabula FH 10Rikiya MatsudaSH 9 Yutaka Nagare N8 8 Kazuki Himeno (c)OF 7 Lappies Labuschagné BF 6 Michael LeitchRL 5 Amato Fakatava LL 4 Jack CornelsenTP 3 Koo Ji-won HK 2 Shōta Horie LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Atsushi Sakate PR 17Craig Millar PR 18Asaeli Ai Valu LK 19Warner Dearns FL 20Kanji Shimokawa SH 21Naoto Saitō CE 22Dylan Riley WG 23Lomano Lemeki Coach: Jamie Joseph Player of the Match: George Ford (England)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Joy Neville (Ireland) Notes: This was the first match between England and Japan at a Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987, when the two nations met in the pool stages.
Argentina vs Samoa
FB 15Juan Cruz MallíaRW 14Emiliano BoffelliOC 13Matías Moroni IC 12Santiago ChocobaresLW 11Mateo CarrerasFH 10Santiago Carreras SH 9 Gonzalo Bertranou N8 8 Juan Martín González OF 7 Marcos KremerBF 6 Pablo MateraRL 5 Matías Alemanno LL 4 Guido PettiTP 3 Eduardo Bello HK 2 Julián Montoya (c) LP 1 Thomas Gallo Replacements:HK 16Agustín Creevy PR 17Mayco Vivas PR 18Francisco Gómez Kodela LK 19Pedro Rubiolo FL 20Rodrigo Bruni SH 21Tomás Cubelli FH 22Nicolás Sánchez CE 23Lucio Cinti Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Duncan Paia'aua RW 14Nigel Ah WongOC 13Ulupano Seuteni IC 12Tumua ManuLW 11Ben LamFH 10Christian Leali'ifanoSH 9 Jonathan TaumateineN8 8 Steven Luatua OF 7 Fritz LeeBF 6 Theo McFarlandRL 5 Chris Vui (c)LL 4 Brian Alainu'uese TP 3 Paul Alo-Emile HK 2 Seilala Lam LP 1 James Lay Replacements:HK 16Sama Malolo PR 17Charlie Faumuina PR 18Michael Alaalatoa LK 19Taleni Seu FL 20Jordan Taufua SH 21Melani MatavaoCE 22D'Angelo Leuila FB 23Danny Toala Coach: Seilala Mapusua Player of the Match: Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia) Notes: Ben Lam (Samoa) made his international debut.
England vs Chile